How Do Jewish Values Guide us in Today’s Immigration Crisis? with Rabbi Sarah Bassin

What draws Jews to stand with immigrants—and what does our tradition demand of us? In this episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Rabbi Sarah Bassin of HIAS and immigration attorney Bill Gerstein about Judaism’s call to protect both neighbor and stranger, the Jewish memory of being outsiders, and the need to resist the dehumanization of those seeking safety.

They break down how immigration has changed: deportation is used more readily, legal pathways have narrowed, and becoming a citizen now requires navigating complex systems of sponsorship, the diversity lottery, and increasingly limited asylum options. They also address how people become undocumented and how often their nonviolent circumstances don’t match the severity of the penalties they face.

The guests highlight the critical work Jewish communities do to support newcomers through job assistance, training, and advocacy—rooted in the legacy of Jewish refugees once denied refuge themselves. Their conversation asks what it means, today, to make room for human dignity within a strained immigration system.

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Temple Beth El of Boca Raton is one of our country’s most vibrant and highly respected Reform congregations. From a small group of committed pioneers who formed the Boca Raton Hebrew Congregation in 1967, Temple Beth El of Boca Raton has grown to be the largest congregation in our area, a center of Jewish tradition, connection, culture, learning and community. Throughout our history we have sought to create a spirit of warmth, intimacy and vitality in all that we are and do, welcoming all people who wish to pursue a meaningful Jewish life. We believe strongly in making a difference in each member’s life, in the larger community, in Israel, and in our world.

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Essential Questions with Rabbi Dan Levin (Podcast): https://tbeboca.org/essential-questions/

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